Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (TAG) has revealed the operation of GLASSBRIDGE, a pro-China influence network that utilizes fake news websites to amplify Beijing-aligned narratives on a global scale. This covert campaign, which has been active since at least 2022, relies on inauthentic news outlets posing as independent sources to distribute content favoring the Chinese government. Over the past two years, Google has blocked more than 1,000 GLASSBRIDGE-run sites from appearing in its Google News and Discover products, highlighting the extensive nature of the operation.
The operation is spearheaded by a small group of digital PR firms, including Shanghai Haixun Technology, Times Newswire, and Shenzhen Bowen Media, which are responsible for syndicating content on various fake news sites. These firms offer newswire, marketing, and syndication services, often distributing articles directly from Chinese state media or press releases commissioned by PR agencies with ties to the Chinese government. This strategy allows GLASSBRIDGE to push its narratives under the guise of objective news, effectively blurring the lines between genuine journalism and propaganda.
One of the key tactics used by GLASSBRIDGE is to hijack legitimate subdomains of well-known news websites, lending further legitimacy to their fake content. For example, content was placed on subdomains like markets.buffalonews[.]com and business.thepilotnews[.]com, which were co-opted to distribute pro-China articles. By embedding their propaganda within trusted outlets, GLASSBRIDGE increases the likelihood that audiences will accept the information as credible, significantly expanding its reach and influence.
This operation exemplifies how influence operations are shifting from traditional social media manipulation to more sophisticated methods, including infiltrating reputable platforms. As TAG researcher Vanessa Molter noted, by masquerading as local, independent news outlets, GLASSBRIDGE can tailor its messages to specific regional audiences, making its content appear more authentic. This tactic underscores the growing complexity of modern information warfare and the increasing challenges in combating influence campaigns that seek to shape global narratives.
